Tips for staying safe when drinking

Stick with friends. Don't go to parties alone, and ask your friends to watch out for you if you're drinking alcohol. You can watch out for them, too, if they're drinking.

Always travel home with your friends, and never take an unlicensed cab – this is like getting into a car with a stranger. Keep the telephone number of a licensed taxi firm with you. Don't drive if you've been drinking.

Never leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from people you don't know in case someone puts drugs in them.

Make decisions when you're sober. Before you start drinking, talk to your boyfriend or girlfriend about your boundaries (what you do and don't want to do) so you don't get carried away and regret it later.

Be prepared. If you're ready to have sex, sort out your contraception before you go out drinking, and always carry a few condoms. Find out more about all the methods of contraception and where you can get them.

Alcohol, sex and making decisions

Alcohol can affect your judgement. You might become easy to influence when it comes to sex. You can make rash decisions, such as having unprotected sex, which can lead to an unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia.

Alcohol might calm your nerves, but it doesn't make sex easier or better, particularly if it's your first time. Being drunk can make you feel confused or ill, which can make the experience unpleasant.

If you're drunk, you might not even remember having sex. And you're more likely to regret it, especially if it's your first time.

Is sex safe when you've been drinking?

Alcohol stops you making sensible decisions, such as using a condom for protection against pregnancy and STIs. Not using a condom puts you at a greater risk of both.

If you're drunk, you're less likely to be thinking clearly enough to talk to your partner about using condoms, or to use condoms properly. Get tips on using condoms.

Emergency contraception

If you have unprotected sex or your contraceptive method has failed, you can lower your chances of having an unintended pregnancy by getting emergency contraception from your local clinic, pharmacy or GP.

There are two types of emergency contraception:

the emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the morning after pill)

the IUD (intrauterine device, or coil)

There are two kinds of emergency contraceptive pill. Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (three days) of sex, and ellaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (five days) of sex. Both pills work by preventing or delaying the release of an egg.

The sooner the emergency contraceptive pill is taken after sex, the more likely it is to be effective.

The IUD can be inserted into your uterus up to five days after unprotected sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have ovulated. It may stop an egg being fertilised or implanting in your womb.